NOT Diagnosed. But worried

Hi there,

First I'll answer the testing questions....
If the strips were only recently bought and are still in date the desiccant thingy won't matter.
But, the best way to tell if you have diabetes is via a blood test rather than a urine test. The urine tests are a bit less accurate. You might have negative urine tests but still have higher-than-normal blood sugar. You can ask your GP for the blood test for free. Or you can buy a meter from your chemists (they usually come with sample strips, but double check), and do it yourself. Personally I'd go to the GP because the strips are very expensive. But I appreciate that you may prefer to do it yourself.
Normal fasting blood sugar (ie first thing in the morning before you have eaten anything) is supposed to be roughly 4.2 to 6.0, I believe.

BUT! If you are getting very hungry and shaking, that sounds to me like hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar - below 4.0) not the high blood sugar of diabetes. Non-diabetic hypoglycaemia is almost unrecognised by doctors in this country, but well known in the States. My non-diabetic ex used to get it all the time; his hypos were worse than mine!
If you start shaking and eat some sugar, does the shaking stop fairly quickly (within about 15 mins)?
If you do have hypoglycaemia to this extent, it's annoying but it's easily treated by understanding which foods release sugars slowly (the GI or glycaemic index is worth a google). Aim to eat these foods for your main meals, and make sure you carry sugary drinks or food around with you for when you are shaking and need to up your blood sugar quickly.

I'd be surprised if you have diabetes, but do see a doctor for a blood test if you want to be sure.

the urine test strips only detect glucose when your blood is quite higher higher than 12 as far I remember, so it is possible to be diabetic but still get a negative urine test, its best to have a blood test.
If you think you might be diabetic you should see your doctor.
but if you prefer some chemists offer a free finger prick glucose test.

guyanxiety said:

Could anyone please recommend a Glucose meter that would be good for testing in the morning i.e 12 hour fast?

Cheers

Click to expand...

they are all pretty much the same just stick to one meter as if you use 2 meters they will both give different results.
there is no meter that is better than another for accurracy.

I really think that you should do to the doctor and get tested self testing will not diagnose diabetes.
as a meter for self testing will never be as accurate as a lab test carried out by your doctor and I think by testing your self you will just make yourself more anxious.
if you get tested properly you can put your mind at rest once and for all

I'd like to point out that stress can affect your blood glucose levels. I'm not a diabetic but I noticed an increase in my levels during a period of stress last year. I think you should try to stop worrying about your blood glucose levels, if your tests have all come out within the accepted range of a non-diabetic then you're probably okay. See your GP about a fasting blood test if you really want to be sure.

guyanxiety said:

Thanks for the replys.

Just starting to worry again now as I remembered that the last time I went through a period of testing my self it was 6.6 when I woke up. Granted it probabaly wasn't a full 12 hours so probabaly nothing to be alarmed about.

I will probabaly go and see my doctor about it but isn't there any other way at all I could get checked for diabetes without going 12 hours without food?

Cheers

Click to expand...

the criteria for diagnosing daibetes has changed most gp,s no longer diagnose on the strength of a fasting blood test or a glucose tolerance test.
the test used now to diagnose is a HBA1C and does not require any fasting and can be taken at anytime of the day regardless of whether or not you have eaten before the test.
HBA1C is an average reading for a 3 month time frame

btw a reading 6.6 fasting is not a diabetic level if a doctor was diagnosing on the strength of a fasting level it would have to be above 7 on more than one occassion

I often suffer from anemia and it cause a falsely low HBA1C result so that wont be an accurate way of diagnosing diabetes however there is an alternative test than can be done if you are still anemic and it can be carried out in the same way as HBA1C so you dont need to fast the name of the test is Fructosamine discuss it with your gp.
the last test you had would not have accurate due to the anemia

guyanxiety said:

Ah **** that sucks.

I was on medication for anaemia for 7 months and the last blood test I had showed I wasn't anaemia so I assume it's all cleared up.

So when I go to my doctor I ask for a HBA1C blood test?

Cheers

Click to expand...

its up to the doctor to decide he probably will carry out the HBA1C test but if you are still anemic you need the other test I told you about.

guyanxiety said:

Well my last blood test showed I wasn't anaemic anymore so when I next see my doc I will ask for a HBA1C blood test. All of my symptoms are probabaly just down to anxiety.

My doctor never mentioned anaemia affecting the results of the HBA1C test though. :/

Cheers

Click to expand...

the sooner you see the doctor the sooner he can test you and you will know one way or another and you can put your mind at rest.
let us know how you get on hoping your NOT diabetic

yes my doctor told me about I have anemia often.
when I first diagnosed diabetic my HBA1C was 5.6 which is a normal reading even though a glucose tolerance test had confirmed diabetes.
I was anemic at the time however I never had that other test fruc something although my doctor told me about it I never had it when I was first diagnosed I was prescribed as many test strips as I wanted for self monitoring with my meter and my gp asked me to keep a record of the results to judge how diabetes was.

I also had iron deficancy anemia and it was my gp who told me that it would affect my HBA1C just check with your doctor